Braiding machine



May 3, 1949. H. LoADER BRAIDING MACHINE Filed oct. 1, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 1 34 l g5* 5,6' WF 1N ENToR.

aaa/@r ATTORNEYS.

May 3, 1949.A H LOADER 2,469,047

, BRAIDING MACHINE Filed OCt. l, 1.947

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I Qc/o/ oafd @Mu/WM A T TORNEYS.

Patented May 3, 1949 BRAIDING MACHINE Hector Loader, New Bedford, Mass., assignor to Emslo Braid Corporation, a corporation of Massachusetts Application ctober 1, 1947, Serial No. 777,226

8 Claims.

This invention relates to braiding and more particularly to braiding in which elastic threads .are used and a braider machine therefor.

A usual manner of applying tension to elastic threads or rubber strands in a braider consists `vin some arrangement whereby a drag is applied on individual strands. In such arrangement the Atension applied on the several elastic threads may vary and is not uniformly distributed in the finished fabric.

An object of this invention is the provision for delivering elastic threads at uniform tension.

Another object of this invention is the provision for controlling the elastic threads at a common point of delivery.

Another object of this invention is the provision for the positive delivers7 of the elastic threads to the point of braiding at uniform tension.

Another object of this invention is .the provision for maintaining a predetermined rate of delivery of the elastic thread to the point of braiding.

A more specic object of this invention is the provision for the positive feed of elastic threads to the point of braiding in timed relation with the take-up mechanism of a braider machine.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fragmental portion of a braider .machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a fragmental portion of the braider showing the relative position of the tensioning mechanism and rubber thread guide posts;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a set of feed rollers` forming part of the tensioning mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a 'view illustrating a ribbon of rubber threads temporarily held together adhesively ralong the longitudinal edges thereof; and

cured to each other at their longitudinal edges, i forming a ribbon of rubber strands. This ribbon of rubber strands may beloosely placed in any suitable container and drawn therefrom to extend between a set of feed rollers. These rollers are positively driven or rotated at a predetermined time relation with the take-up mechanism of the braider. The rubber ribbon is extended from the rollers t-o pass through a guide and there separated into individual strands which are led to the individual warp or guide posts on the braider. From the guide posts the strands `are extended to the former of the braider under proper tension to be incorporated into the braid. By this arrangement, the proper tension4 placed on the rubber strands is maintained and the rubber strands are incorporated into the braid at a uniform tension.

With reference to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, I0 designates a braider machine, only so much of which has been shown as is -believed suicent for a clear disclosure of the invention. The braider machine comprises an upper or top plate I I and a bottom plate I 2 secured to each other in spaced relation. Between these plates the usual horn gears I3 operate. The top plate has a serpentine groove I4 which provides a path to guide the yar-n carrier I5. The bottom end portion I6 of each carrier extends through the groove I4 and is engaged by the flanges or h-orns I1 on the horn gears to propel the carrier and the yarn I8 held thereon about the serpentine path in a usual and wellknown manner.

The power to rotate the horn gears I3 is transmitted through a pulley I9 i'ixed to a drive shaft 20 to which there is secured so as to rotate there.. with a bevel gear 2I. This bevel gear engages one of the gears of the horn gear train to rotate the same.

There is mounted on a supporting erossbar 22 a take-up device 23 which comprises a plurality :of rollers 24 between which the braid (B) as formed, is taken up or advanced t0 be packaged or otherwise disposed 0f. These rollers 24 are driven or rotated by means of a gear train 25 attached to the Ashafts of the rollers. One of the gears of the gear train 25 is secured to rotate with a crossshaft 26 mounted or journaled in a. support 21 extending upwardly at one side of the machine. Motion is transmitted to the cross-shaft "26 through an upright shaft 28, one end ,portion of which is journaled in the support 2l. The shaft is additionally supported in a bearing bracket 29 extending from the bottom plate I2. The upper end portion of the shaft has a worm 30 attached thereto so as to rotate therewith. This worm .30 engages with a worm wheel 3| on the shaft of which is fixed a gear 32. The gear 32 engages with a similar gear 33 secured on the end portion of the cross-shaft 26. These two gears 32, 33

of these strands 33. ythese rubber strands 33 are adhesively secured f to each other at their longitudinal edges to temythe lower roller.

consist of change gears which may be changed so as to vary the speed of rotation of the take-up mechanism. The shaft 28 has a gear 34 secured thereto and engages with an adjacent horn gear 35 to be rotated thereby and, through the gearing mechanism above described, rotate the rollers 24. The rollers 24 are mounted in a manner so as to permit limited relative movement to and from each other. A weighted pivoted arm 36 has a portion thereof resting on the shaft of the upper of the rollers 24 whereby the bite of the rollers on the braid is controlled.

Mounted centrally on each quoit formed by the serpentine groove is a warp or guide post 3l. The post is hollow and the elastic or rubber strand 38 extends through the post and over a guide pulley 39 xed to the upper end of the post. The rubber strand 3B is led from the pulley to the former 4l! to be incorporated with the yarn (Y) into the braid. There are a plurality In the instant application porarily hold the same in a ribbon form 4I. The

ribbon 4I of the rubber strands is loosely positioned in a container 42 placed beneath the braider or at some other convenient point and led therefrom in the ribbon form to pass between a plurality of feed rollers 43. rIhese rollers 43 are mounted to a stand 44 for rotation and for limited movement toward and away from veach other. yThe stand 44 is secured on a crossbar 45. These rollers are driven or rotated by a gear train 46 comprising a gear 47 on the upper roller,

a gear 4S on the middle roller and a gear 49 on A weighted arm 59 is pivotally mounted on the stand 44 as at 5I and extends from the pivot to rest on the shaft of the upper of the rollers whereby providing a yielding pres- Vsure on the bite of the rollers 43 on the rubber ribbon. The rubber ribbons extend from the rollers to a guide 52 which comprises a support 52a in the form of a wire ring 52o. The ring is' supported in position in any convenient manner such as from the stand 44 by uprights 52e.

The ring is positioned above the rollers 43 centrally thereof and spaced therefrom a sufficient distance so as to advantageously draw the rubber strands from the rollers 43 to the guide 52. A plurality of pulleys 52d are loosely mounted on the ring 52h for axial and free rotation thereon.

- There is a pulley 52d for each rubber strand.

with the rollers 24 of the take-up device 23,

motion is transmitted from the shaft 28 to the rollers 42 by means of a gear train 53. This gear train is supported in a stand 54 and comprises a worm 55 secured to the lower end of the shaft 28. The worm engages with a worm wheel 55 on the shaft of which is secured the gear engaging a gear 58. The gear 58 is xed on a shaft carrying a change gear 59 which engages a change gear 60 fixed on the shaft 6I ofthe bottom roller of the rollers 43. By means of the change gears 59, `(ill, a predetermined speed ratio may be maintained between the rotation of the take-up rollers 24 and the feed rolls 43.

In the operation of the mechanism for maintaining a uniform tension on the rubber strands, the strands are placed under proper tension in the length thereof extending between the feed rollers 43 and the take-up device l23. This tension is maintained by rotating the feed rollers 43 in proper time relation with the take-up rollers 24 by means of the mechanism above described.

I`claim:

l. In a braiding machine, work take-up rolls, rubber warp feed rolls, a power source, means to drive the take-up rolls from said power source, means including change gears to drive the feed rolls from said same power source whereby said take-up and feed rolls are driven in definite ftimed relation which may be varied by changing the ration of said change gears.

2. In a braiding machine, work take-up rolls, rubber warp feed rolls, a power shaft, means to drive said take-up rolls from said power shaft, ak gear train including change gears to deliver power from said power shaft to said feed rolls whereby both sets of rolls are driven in definite timed relation to tension the warp delivered by the feed rolls.

3. In a braiding machine, work take-up rolls, rubber warp feed rolls, a power shaft, means to drive said take-up rolls from said power shaft including a shaft to rotate one of said feed rolls, an` intermediate shaft and change gears between said last two mentioned shafts.

4. In a braiding machine as in claim l wherein said feed rolls are three metallic rolls providing two nips through which the warp passes.

5. In a braiding machine, a guide plate for the braider carriers, -horn gears beneath said plate for driving the carriers, work take-up rolls above said plate, rubber Warp feed rolls beneath said plate, means to drive both take-up rolls and feed rolls from said horn gears whereby the take-up and feed rolls are driven in definite timed relation.

6..In a braiding machine as in claim 5 wherein vsaid feed rolls are driven from said horn gears through change gears whereby the ratio of takeup and feed may be varied.

7. In a braiding machine as in claim 5 wherein said means to drive said rolls include a common shaft driven from a single gear meshing with said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name y Date 1,619,342 Gammeter Mar. 1, 1927 2,200,323 Barrans et al May 14, 1940 2,380,373

Alderfer July 31, 1945 

